Images: Second anniversary of Japan's tsunami disaster

A fishing boat washed ashore by the March 11, 2011 tsunami sits in a deserted port area in Kesennuma, Miyagi prefecture, northeastern Japan, at dawn on Monday, March 11, 2013. Japan is marking the second anniversary of its earthquake, tsunami and nuclear catastrophe. Memorial services are planned Monday in Tokyo and in barren towns along the battered northeastern coast to coincide the moment the magnitude-9.0 earthquake ˇ the strongest recorded in Japan's history ˇ struck, unleashing a massive tsunami that killed nearly 19,000 people.Associated Press

A man points to the name of one of the victims of the earthquake and tsunami inscribed in a cenotaph in Okawa district in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, northern Japan, Monday, March 11, 2013. Japan marked the second anniversary on Monday of a devastating earthquake and tsunami that left nearly 19,000 people dead or missing.Associated Press

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, left, bows to Emperor Akihito, second right, and Empress Michiko during the national memorial service for the victims of the March 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami in Tokyo, Monday, March 11, 2013. Japan marked the second anniversary on Monday of the disaster that left nearly 19,000 people dead or missing and more than 300,000 people still displaced.Associated Press

An artificially-restored "miracle pine tree," that survived the March 11, 2011 tsunami, is silhouetted against the rising sun in Rikuzentakata, Iwate prefecture, Japan, Monday, March 11, 2013. Japan marked the second anniversary of its earthquake, tsunami and nuclear catastrophe, that killed nearly 19, 000 people in areas along Japan's northeastern coast. The 27-meter (88-foot and 7-inch)-tall tree, a single survivor among 70,000 trees in a forest along the coast, has just been restored in a project to preserve it.Associated Press

People offer prayers as a Buddhist monk chants a sutra for tsunami victims to mark the second anniversary of the 2011 earthquake an tsunami on a beach in Arahama in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, Monday morning, March 11, 2013. Japan marked the second anniversary of the disasters, that killed nearly 19, 000 people in areas along Japan's northeastern coast.Associated Press

Police officers search for the remains of those who went missing in the March 11, 2011 tsunami on the coastline in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, northern Japan, Monday, March 11, 2013. The two-year anniversary Monday of Japan's devastating earthquake, tsunami and nuclear catastrophe is serving to spotlight the stakes of the country's struggles to clean up radiation, rebuild lost communities and determine new energy and economic strategies.Associated Press

Red and white cranes stand by reactors of the tsunami-ravaged Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan, Monday morning, March 11, 2013. The two-year anniversary Monday of JapanÝs devastating earthquake, tsunami and nuclear catastrophe is serving to spotlight the stakes of the country's struggles to clean up radiation, rebuild lost communities and determine new energy and economic strategies.Associated Press

People offer prayers in front of a memorial cenotaph for tsunami victims on a beach in Arahama in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, Monday morning, March 11, 2013. Japan marked the second anniversary of its earthquake, tsunami and nuclear catastrophe, that killed nearly 19, 000 people in areas along Japan's northeastern coast.Associated Press

Buddhist monks march on the sea wall, marking the second anniversary of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear catastrophe, that killed nearly 19, 000 people in areas along Japan's northeastern coast, in Miyako, Iwate prefecture, Monday, March 11, 2013.Associated Press

People offer prayers in front of what is left of a disaster control center in an area devastated by the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami, in Minamisanriku, Miyagi Prefecture, Monday, March 11, 2013. Japan marked the second anniversary on Monday of the devastating disasters that left nearly 19,000 people dead or missing.Associated Press

Gathering around what is left of a disaster control center devastated by the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami, people bow their heads Monday, March 11, 2013 in Minamisanriku, Miyagi prefecture, Japan, in a moment of silence at 2:46 p.m. when the magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck off Japan's northeastern coast. Japan marked the second anniversary on Monday of a devastating disasters that left nearly 19,000 people dead or missing.Associated Press

People offer prayer in a moment of silence in front of what is left of a disaster control center in an area devastated by the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Minamisanriku, Miyagi Prefecture, Monday, March 11, 2013. Japan marked the second anniversary on Monday of the devastating disasters that left nearly 19,000 people dead or missing.Associated Press

A man offers prayers in front of the main entrance of Okawa Elementary School where 74 of the 108 students went missing after the March 11 tsunami in Ishinomaki, Miyagi prefecture, Japan, Monday, March 11, 2013. The two-year anniversary Monday of Japan's devastating earthquake, tsunami and nuclear catastrophe is serving to spotlight the stakes of the country's struggles to clean up radiation, rebuild lost communities and determine new energy and economic strategies.Associated Press

This aerial view shows the tsunami-ravaged Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan, Monday, March 11, 2013. The two-year anniversary Monday of JapanÝs devastating earthquake, tsunami and nuclear catastrophe is serving to spotlight the stakes of the country's struggles to clean up radiation, rebuild lost communities and determine new energy and economic strategies.Associated Press

A woman lights candles during an event for the victims of the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami at a park in Tokyo, Monday, March 11, 2013. Japan marked the second anniversary on Monday of a devastating earthquake and tsunami that left nearly 19,000 people dead or missing.Associated Press

Buddhist monks chant sutras in front of the main gate of Okawa Elementary School where 74 of the 108 students went missing after the March 11 tsunami in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, Monday, March 11, 2013. Japan is marking the second anniversary of its earthquake, tsunami and nuclear catastrophe. Memorial services are planned Monday in Tokyo and in barren towns along the battered northeastern coast to coincide the moment the magnitude-9.0 earthquake ˇ the strongest recorded in Japan's history ˇ struck, unleashing a massive tsunami that killed nearly 19,000 people.Associated Press

Police officers search for the remains of those who went missing in the March 11, 2011 tsunami on the coastline in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, northern Japan, Monday, March 11, 2013. The two-year anniversary Monday of Japan's devastating earthquake, tsunami and nuclear catastrophe is serving to spotlight the stakes of the country's struggles to clean up radiation, rebuild lost communities and determine new energy and economic strategies.Associated Press

People observe a moment of silence for the victims of the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami during an event at a park in Tokyo, Monday, March 11, 2013. Japan marked the second anniversary on Monday of a devastating earthquake and tsunami that left nearly 19,000 people dead or missing.Associated Press

Cars stop at a traffic signal in a snow covered deserted port area, which was engulfed by a tsunami after the March 11, 2011 earthquake, in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, at dawn on Monday, March 11, 2013. Japan is marking the second anniversary of its earthquake, tsunami and nuclear catastrophe. Memorial services are planned Monday in Tokyo and in barren towns along the battered northeastern coast to coincide the moment the magnitude-9.0 earthquake ˇ the strongest recorded in Japan's history ˇ struck, unleashing a massive tsunami that killed nearly 19,000 people.Associated Press

Red and white cranes stand by reactors of the tsunami-ravaged Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan, Monday, March 11, 2013. The two-year anniversary Monday of JapanÝs devastating earthquake, tsunami and nuclear catastrophe is serving to spotlight the stakes of the country's struggles to clean up radiation, rebuild lost communities and determine new energy and economic strategies.Associated Press

Houses stand on a snow covered deserted port area, which was engulfed by a tsunami after the March 11, 2011 earthquake, in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, at dawn on Monday, March 11, 2013. Japan is marking the second anniversary of its earthquake, tsunami and nuclear catastrophe. Memorial services are planned Monday in Tokyo and in barren towns along the battered northeastern coast to coincide the moment the magnitude-9.0 earthquake ˇ the strongest recorded in Japan's history ˇ struck, unleashing a massive tsunami that killed nearly 19,000 people.Associated Press

People observe a moment of silence for the victims of the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami during an event at a park in Tokyo, Monday, March 11, 2013. Japan marked the second anniversary on Monday of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that left nearly 19,000 people dead or missing.Associated Press

Women approach Okawa Elementary School where 74 of the 108 students went missing after the March 11 tsunami in Ishinomaki, Miyagi prefecture, Japan, Monday, March 11, 2013. The two-year anniversary Monday of Japan's devastating earthquake, tsunami and nuclear catastrophe is serving to spotlight the stakes of the country's struggles to clean up radiation, rebuild lost communities and determine new energy and economic strategies.Associated Press

A woman prays during a rally against nuclear power plants as victims of the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami are remembered, at a park in Tokyo, Monday, March 11, 2013. Japan marked the second anniversary on Monday of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that left nearly 19,000 people dead or missing.Associated Press

Japanese Emperor Akihito, right, and Empress Michiko bow to pay tribute to the victims of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami at the national memorial service in Tokyo, Monday, March 11, 2013. Japan marked the second anniversary on Monday of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that left nearly 19,000 people dead or missing and more than 300,000 people still displaced.Associated Press

People observe a moment of silence for the victims of the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami during an event at a park in Tokyo, Monday, March 11, 2013.Associated Press

Police officers search for the remains of those who went missing in the March 11, 2011 tsunami on the coastline in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, northern Japan, Monday, March 11, 2013. The two-year anniversary Monday of Japan's devastating earthquake, tsunami and nuclear catastrophe is serving to spotlight the stakes of the country's struggles to clean up radiation, rebuild lost communities and determine new energy and economic strategies.Associated Press

Buddhist monks chant sutras in front of the main entrance of Okawa Elementary School where 74 of the 108 students went missing after the March 11 tsunami in Ishinomaki, Miyagi prefecture, Japan, Monday, March 11, 2013. The two-year anniversary Monday of Japan's devastating earthquake, tsunami and nuclear catastrophe is serving to spotlight the stakes of the country's struggles to clean up radiation, rebuild lost communities and determine new energy and economic strategies.Associated Press

Japan is marking the second anniversary of its earthquake, tsunami and nuclear catastrophe. memorial services are planned monday in tokyo and in barren towns along the battered northeastern coast to coincide with the moment the magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck, unleashing a massive tsunami that killed nearly 19,000 people.

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